Unmanned aircraft could soon be controlled by Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) jets operated on counter-piracy missions by NATO.

Boeing is also holding internal discussions on integrating a control station for the low-altitude Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system on the Bell Boeing V-22.

Both details emerged at a Boeing briefing on 10 August about the ScanEagle's involvement in an ongoing coalition exercise called Empire Challenge.

The Fort Huachucha, Arizona-based event drew a NATO E-3A AWACS crew to demonstrate how the battle management aircraft could use a ScanEagle to intercept suspected pirate vessels, says John Hearing, senior manager for next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft at Boeing PhantomWorks.